Minnow box for boats



Oct. 25, 1955 J. E. WAGNER MrNNow Box FOR BOATS Filed Dec. o, 1953 United AStates Patent() I MINNOW BOX FOR BOATS James E. Wagner, Shawnee, Okla. Application December 10, 19573, Serial No. 397,425 7 Claims. (Cl. 248-214) The present invention relates to an improved minnow box and novel attaching and clamping means with which the box is separably connected and which is expressly, but not necessarily, designed and aptly adapted to removably mount said box on the wall of a rowboat, or the like.

An object of the invention is to so construct and associate the clamp and minnow box that the latter, in use, is suspended exteriorly of, and alongside of, the wall of the boat, said box being suitably perforated so that, being submerged in the water, the minnows, or other bait in the box, will be constantly supplied with water and thus kept alive and in condition for ready and handy use.

In carrying out the preferred principles of the invention, clamp means is provided wherein said means is characterized by a pair of complemental units, said units being readily applicable and removable, adapted to be securely maintained in properly retained association with each other, and one of said units, herein dilerentiated as the outboard unit, being constructed to separably suspend the minnow box over the side of the boat in order that it may be handily and satisfactorily utilized to best advantage.

More specifically, the inward vertical wall of the bait box is provided with vertical, spaced-parallel anglemembers and these are slidably and removably mounted in complemental channel-members fixed to and therefore carried by the outboard unit of the clamping means.

Novelty is, in addition, predicated on the construction briefly set forth wherein said inward wall is provided with a centrally positioned, vertically disposed socket member to accommodate a bolt, said bolt being held in place on the outboard unit by way of a complemental pivoted member and the head of the bolt being accessible so as to permit the box to be vertically raised and lowered, securely held in the desired position, or, if desired, wholly detached for carrying by hand.

Then, too, novelty is predicated on an improved bait box having a recessed top including a centered opening and a hinged lid therefor, and a pair of pivotally mounted carrying bails which may be folded into the recess in an out-of-the-way position when not in use.

Other objects, features, and advantages will become more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying sheet of illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the views:

Figure l is a fragmentary perspective view of a por tion of a rowboat and showing the improved bait box, the clamp means on the side wall of the boat, and the complemental mechanical elements whereby the box is properly suspended in the desired overboard position;

Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view in which all of the elements in the overall structure are clearly illustrated;

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view y 2,721,718 Patented Oct. 25, 1955 taken on the plane of the line 3 3 of Figure 1 looking in the direction Vof the arrows;

Figure 4 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view which brings out certain structural details; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary perspective view clarifying certain details not significantly revealed in other views.

Broadly, the support structure, which is here illustrated as a rowboat, is ldenoted by the numeral 6 and the side wall, which comes into the picture, is denoted by the numeral 8. The bait or minnow box is denoted generally by the numeral 10 and the attaching and retaining clamp means is denoted in Figures 1 and 4 in a broad sense by the numeral 12. This clamp means, as is best illustrated in Figure 2, comprises a pair of cooperating sections orunits and the inner one is conveniently denoted as the inboard unit 14, while the other one is denoted as the outboard unit 16. These units are made up chiey of complemental coplanar angle irons. The angle iron of the inboard unit comprises a vertical ange 18 and a horizontal flange 20 and the other one comprises a vertical llange 22 and a horizontal flange 24, said flanges 20 and 24 being in horizontal coplanar relationship. The ange 20 is provided adjacent its opposite ends with socket-like members which are here conveniently referred to as keepers 26-26 and these serve to accommodate suitably ar. ranged and projecting keeper fingers or tongues 28-28 in an obvious manner. The members 30--30 on ange 24 are conveniently referred to here as screw-threaded nuts and they are adapted to accommodate the threaded shank portion of the insertable and removable bolts 32-32. These bolts are conveniently assembled and held in place by sleeves 34 welded or otherwise mounted atop the flange 20. The ange 22 is provided adjacent its ends with fixed vertical outwardly opening channel-shaped track members 36-36 and these are connected at their lower ends by a horizontal brace 38 having its extending terminals 39 serving as stop elements. These members 36-36 serve to accommodate flanges on properly positioned and mating angle members 40--40 vertically mounted on the inward wall of the bait box 10, this in an obvious manner.

. The members 40 are usually slipped downwardly into the channel portions of the track members 36-36 to interconnect the bait box and clamp means. The walls of the bait box 42 are provided with perforations or holes 44 for obvious circulation of water. There is a recessed cover for the top portion of the box and this is made up of a pair of recessed cover plates 46-46 having their inner ends spaced apart to provide an entrance opening which, in turn, is covered or closed by the openable and closable lid 48. The lid is hinged at one end as at 50 and has a suitable retaining element 52 at the free end fitting into a clasp 54. This recessed cover means provides a suitable space for the folding U-shaped handle or wire bails here conveniently denoted by the numerals 56--56. The limbs of these bails are hinged in place as at 58. The bails are normally folded to out-of-the-way positions, as shown in the drawings, but may be swung up and handily held for transporting the bait box in an obvious manner.

For purposes of maintaining the box 10 on the clamp means and adjusting it vertically as well as allowing it to be detached, a bolt 60 (see Figure 3)`having a winged head 62 is provided. This is slipped down through a hole in a cleat-like fastener 63 pivoted or otherwise mounted at 64 on the llange 22 and projecting in the manner shown and it is then screwed into a screw-threaded socket member 66 which is aligned therewith and fxedly secured to the inner wall 68 of the box. Thus, the box may be readily assembled or fastened in place, adjusted vertically, or detached, as conditions require.

In practice, the anges of the angle members 40-40 are slipped down into the channels of the anchoring tracks or members 36-36 in an obvious manner and the bolt 60 is passed down through the hole in the cleat-like fastener 63 and is screwed into the cooperating socket member 66 to thus maintain the parts in assembled ready-to-use adjustable relationship. By swinging the fastener 63 to one side, say from right to left in a direction away from the stop lug 65, clearance for the socket member 66 isy had. Finally, the check-lingers 67, which project from the inner wall of the box strike the aforesaid stop-extensions 39 and limit the downward sliding of the box 10 relative to the track members 36-36.

From the foregoing, the construction and operation of the device will be readily understood and further explanation is believed unnecessary. However, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction shown and described, and accordingly all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimed as new is as follows:

1'. In combination, attaching and retaining clamp means detachably applicable to a relatively stationary support structure, a bait box, means separably joining said box to said clamp means embodying a cleat-like member mounted on said clamp means, a socket member fixed on said box, said socket member being axially aligned with said cleat-like member and having internal screw threads, and a uniting and adjusting bolt adapted to be inserted in and downwardly through said cleat-like member and to be received in said socket member where by the bait box may be vertically adjusted with respect to said clamp means.

2. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of angle irons joined separably and adjustably to each other in coplanar spaced parallel relationship.

3. The structure defined in claim l, wherein said clamping means comprises a pair of angle irons joined separably and adjustably to each other in coplanar spaced parallel relationship, one of said angle irons having horizontal keepers and the other angle iron having keepertongues fitting telescopically and removably into said keepers.

4. The structure defined in claim l, wherein said clamp mea-ns is provided with vertical channel-shaped members and said box is provided with angle members slidingly and removably mounted in said channel-shaped members.

5. The structure defined in claim l, wherein said clamping means comprises an inboard unit and a companion outboard unit, each unit having a horizontal flange and constituting a horizontally disposed angle iron, the horizontal fiange of said inboard unit having socketlike keepers fixed' thereon, the corresponding horizontal ange of said outboard unit being coplanar with said first named flange and having fixed keeper tongues fitting telescopically and removably into said keepers.

6. The structure defined in claim 1, wherein said clamping means comprises an inboard unit and a companion outboard unit, each unit embodying a horizontally disposed angle iron, the horizontal ange of said inboard unit having socket-like keepers fixed thereon, the corresponding horizontal flange of said outboard unit being coplanar with said first named flange andv having fixed keeper tongues fitting telescopically and removably into said keepers, at least one nut fixed on one fiange, an aligned sleeve fixed on the other flange, and a bolt passing through said sleeve and screwed into said nut.

7. In combination, clamp means detachably applicable to a relatively stationary support structure, a bait box, a second means separably joining said box to said clamp means, said second means embodying a pivoted fastener mounted on said clamp means, a vertical socket member fixed to said box, said latter member being axially aligned with said fastener and having internal screw-threads, and a uniting and adjusting bolt accessible for insertionl and adjustment adjacent to said fastener and passing downwardly through a hole in the latter and screwed into said socket member, said box having perforated walls, having a center` entrance opening at its top, a hinged lid normally covering said opening and closing said box, and carrying bails pivotally mounted atop said box.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 523,470 Hemp July 24, 1894 2,243,498 Candioto May 27, 1941 2,620,082 Harmon Dec. 2, 1952 

